Clay Bauman ahead in Whitsunday council Division 2 by-election

As candidates in the Whitsunday council by-election wait for preferences to land, a trend has emerged. LATEST

Airlie Beach and Clay Bauman. Picture: Contributed

A man who has called for more transparency at the Whitsunday council and reduced power for bureaucrats is in prime position to take out the Division 2 by-election.

Clay Bauman was as of Monday 9am leading the four-horse race, with 36.29 per cent of the first preference count, or 840 votes.

His nearest competitor is real estate agent Andy Camm, who nabbed 27.04 per cent of the count, or 626 votes.

Christopher Harvey is in third sport with 21.34 per cent and 494 votes and Daniel Popovich brings up the rear with 15.33 per cent and 355 votes.

The turnout in the December 3 election was low, with just 59.4 per cent of enrolled electors voting.

It is understood the final result will be determined on December 14 after the ECQ allocates preferences.

Mr Bauman, whose background is in film and television, expressed confidence on election night he would emerge victorious.

“A 180 vote lead is a fair bit for him (Mr Camm) to claw back,” he said.

The Cannonvale resident was the only candidate not to do up a how-to-vote card for punters.

Mr Harvey and Mr Camm put Mr Bauman in third position on their cards.

Mr Popovich put Mr Bauman in last position.

“I have just got to hope that enough people decided to choose for themselves and put me number 2,” Mr Bauman said.

Cannonvale resident and Whitsundays Division 2 candidate Clay Bauman. Picture: Contributed

Division 2 ropes in Cannonvale and Conway National Park, but Mr Bauman said opposition to high-rise development in Airlie Beach was the key theme of the campaign.

“The most repetitive comment, the main thing people were concerned about was maintaining the amenity of our town, and that was still a surprise for me,” he said.

During the campaign, Mr Bauman said he opposed high rise development within certain pockets of Airlie Beach.

“I still feel the Airlie Beach bowl should be protected,” he said.

“You can set back (buildings) but we should really maintain that coastal town, village atmosphere.”

The other candidates also expressed suspicion about high rise development, though Mr Harvey said it was “inevitable” and should be managed rather than blocked.

Mr Popovich said the ratepayers of Division 2 did not want another “Gold Coast 2.0”.

Speaking on election night, Mr Harvey said it was possible for another candidate to swing past Mr Bauman.

“No one has a way-out front lead that can’t be run down,” he said.

“But Clay is in a very strong position.”

Mr Harvey said he was surprised by the low turnout.

“There’s going to be a lot of fines in the mail for people.”